The True Form of Church Government, Chapter 10 – Chapter 11
CHAP. X.
THe Lord hath ordained that there should bee one Bishop or Pastor (at the least) president over every Congregation, who are of equall authority in their severall charges, and in the generall government of the Church, T.C. 1 bo…ke, page 22. & 2 booke, 1 part, page 515.
They maintaine contrary unto this, these two.
1. That one may have two or mo charges, and be absent from them, …s their dispensations and practize doe prove.
2. That one Minister may have a soveraigntie and Lordship over his …llow Ministers, which both being disproved, the former …ssertion will remaine still sure.
1. One man may not have mo charges then be is able in any measure to discharge: No man is able in any measure,Reasons against the first propositi…n. to discharge the dutie that is belonging to mo flocks then one, seeing hee cannot preach unto them, both in season and out of season: Therefore no man may have more Charges then one.
2. That which maketh an open entrance to the enemy to spoyle, cannot be lawfull: for one to have moe charges then one, maketh open entrance for the enemy to spoile, for the Woolfe watcheth to devoure, whilest the shepheard is absent: Therefore no man may have mo charges then one.
3. The which hath neither precept, nor president for it, either in Gods word, or any approved Writer, …ut onelyonly from Antichrist, is unlawfull: But such is the having of mo charges th…n one: Therefore it is unlawfull.
4. That which declareth a Minister to be more desirous of the fleece, then to profit the flocke, that same is unlawfull: But such is the having of moe charges then one, for were it not for the gaine, they would thinke one a burden as heavie as they could beare: Therefore it is unlawfull.
5. All the reasons that be alledged in the third chapter, against nonresidence, are forcible to this purpose, for if he may not be nonresident, he may not h…ve mo charges, unlesse he be willing to be quartered, that every charge may have a piece of him.
He reckoneth them among theeves,Hooper upon 1 command. and their action to be theevery, condemned by that commandement.
Therefore,The Conclusion. if one man cannot in any tollerable measure discharge mo charges then one; if to have mo maketh an open entrance to the enemy to spoyle; if it have neither precept, nor president for it, but onelyonly in the kingdome of Antichrist; if it declare the practizers to be more desirous of the fleece, then to feed the Flocke; If all the reasons that condemne nonresidencie be against it; Lastly, if it be plaine theevery: then must it needs follow, that one may not have two, or mo charges.
Their objections (such as they be) are set downe in the 3 chapter, and the answers unto them.
The second Proposition that they hold is thi….The second Proposition that they hold, and reasons against …t.
One Minister may have a sover…igne authoritie, and Lordship over his fellow Ministers: which is thus disproved.
1. They that have their commission indiff…rently given them, without difference betweene one and another, are of equall authoriti…, and may not be one over another: but such is the commission of all Gods Ministers indifferently, as appeareth, Matth. 28.19.20. Therefore they are of equall authority, and may not have any dominion one over another.
2. That which Christ hath directly forbidden, that may not in any case be allowed but is ever unlawfull: But Christ hath directly forbidden, that one Minister should have dominion over another, Matth. …0.25. Luk. 22 25. Therefore one Minister may not have superioritie or dominion over another.
3. They that may not be Lords over the people of God, may much lesse be Lords over the Ministers, for the Ministers be (in respect of the Ministery) above the people: but a Minister may not be Lordly over Gods people (as is testified by him on whom they would father the greatest lordlinesse) 1 Pet. 5.3. Therefore one Minister may not bee Lord, or have superiority over another.
Cyprian lib. 1. Epist. 3.4. It is ordained, and is equall and right, that every mans cause be heard, where the fault was committed: and it is meete to handle the matter there, where they may have both the accusers, and witnesses of the fault; which sheweth that every Minister had authority over his owne flocke, and no other to meddle.
Luther adver…s papa… a Satan… fun…t.5. Bishops, wheresoever they be in all the world, are equall to our Bishops, or Parish Ministers and Preachers; Of none it can be said one is Lord, another is Servant: whatsoever belongeth to the Church, belongeth equally to all, saving that some are of better gifts then others, howbeit such gifts cause no inequallitie or Lordship in the Church.
Muscul. loc. com de manist. ve…bi. The same upon 2 Thes. 2. Co…fes Helvet▪ cap. 17. The same cap. …8.6 In the Apostolike Church, the ministers of the Word, were none above another, and were subject to no head or president, &c.
7. The honour of a Bishop, being taken from the rest of the Ministers, and given to one, was the first step to Papacie.
8. Christ did most severely forbid unto the Apostles and their successors, primacie and dominion.
9. Equall power and function is given to all Ministers of the Church, and that from the beginning, no one preferred himselfe before another, saving onelyonly that for order, some one did call them together, propounded the matters that were to be consulted of, and gathered the voyces.
The Conclusion.Therefore, if all Ministers have their commission indifferently given unto them, If Christ have forbidden, that one Minister should have dominion over another; if no minister may exercise dominion over Gods people; if authoritie to handle Controversies, belonged to every severall congregation; if a Bishop and Parish Minister be all one; if in the Apostles time, no Minister was above another; if the superiority of one above another, was the first step to the Papacie; lastly, if they have equall power and function from the beginning: than must it needs follow, that no Minister may have superiority, or exercise dominion over another.
Their objections hereunto (so many as are worthy any answer) be these.
1. Object. Christ Math. 20.25. forbiddeth onelyonly ambition, and not dominion, as Musculus expoundeth it.
Ans. Musculus his judgement appeareth in the 6 and 7 reasons, the place is expounded against superiority by Calvin, Bulling. Zwing. G…alter, Hemingi…s, &c. But let it be so expounded: that dominion is am…ition, because it causeth a man to aspire above his …ellow Ministers.
2. Object. The Greek word signifieth rule with oppression, which is the thing that is forbidden.
Answ. That is not so, for Luk. 22 25. useth the single verbe Kurieuein, which signifieth simply to rule: the sonnes of Zebedeus desired not to oppresse but to rule, which desire …e reproved.
3 Objection. Christ saith not, no man shall be so, but hee that will be so, desiring it.
Answer. But Luke saith, let the greatest be as your servant, and therefore that is but a silly shift.
So that their assertions being overthrown,A Bishop should be in every congregation. and their objections answered, it remaineth, that we prove yet more directly, that the Lord hath ordained, that there should be a Bishop resident over every congregation; which is thus proved.
1 If a Bishop and Minister be all one, then must there be a Bishop in every congrega…ion, for every man will confesse that every congregation ought to have a Mi…ister: But a Bishop and a Minister is all one, as appeareth by this tha… S. Paul describeth not one quality for the Bishop, but it is also the quality of every good Minister; and also in that hee describeth no other Minister but the Bishop: Therefore there ought to be a Bishop in every congregation.
2 S. Pauls Bishops and his Deacons were appointed to one place, as appeareth both in the description of them, and the practise of the Apostles: But the Deacons were in every Congregation, which appeareth, Phil. 1.1. Acts 6.2. that Office being needfull every where; and in that it continued so, longer then the Office of Bishops, Athanasius Apol. 2. Jerome Contra …, &c. Therefore there ought to be a Bishop in every congr…t…n.
3 That which Paul enjoy… to Titus, is also to be practised alwayes in the like …: But he commanded him to ordaine Elders in every Citie, Tit. 1.5. which are expounded in the next verse to be Bishops: Therefore there must be a Bishop in every congregation.
Ignatiu… ….4 Every Church should have her Communion Table, and every Church her Bishop.
5 Where there was found any worthy to be a Bishop, there a Bishop was appointed,… l…b 3. …. 1. … ▪ 75. and where there was not to furnish both Bishop and preaching El…er (hee meaneth the Doctor) there the Apostles made a Bishop, and left the Elder.
2 C…ncil. Ca… t…ag t…m. 1. cap. 10 3. … 4 cap 8▪6 If a Bishop runne into a slander, and many Bishops cannot suddenly be gathered; his cause shall be heard of twelve Bishops &c.
7 If an Elder be accused, hee may call six Bishops from the places hard by.
S…ories make mention of Bishops of little Townes, as (a)… lib. 5. cap. 16Soti…us Bishop of the Village Cuman: (b)…. lib. 5 cap. 4.Mares, Bishop of a sm…ll Towne called Solicha: (c)… 4 …6.Gregory, Bishop of a small Citie, called Nazianzum: (d)Quaest 16. … …0 … Evagri….The Bishop of a Castle.
9 A Minister, that is to say, a Bishop, …nd (a little after) the Apostle doth plainly teach, that a Minister and a Bishop i… all one, and (upon Titus) a Bishop and a Minister are the same: and (ad Ocea…um) with the ancient Fathers, Bishops, and Elders were all one.
10 D.Barnes (in his … Article) saith, I will never beleeve, neither can I ever beleeve,Act a…d Monum…nts, fol. 216. that one man may by the law of God, be a Bishop of two or three Cities, yea … a whole Country, for that it is contrary to the doctrine of S. Paul, who writing to Titus, commandeth that …e should ordaine a Bishop in every Towne.
11 It is pitie to see how farre the Office of a Bishop is degenerated from the originall in the Scripture;Hooper upon 8 comma…d. pag. …0. it was not so in the beginning, when Bishops were at the best, at the Epistle to Titus testifieth, that willeth him, to ordaine in every Citie, &c. They know the primitive C…ur…h had no such Bishops as we have, untill the time of Silvester the first.
The conclusio….Therefore, if a Bishop and a Minister be all one; if Bishops were to be where Deacons are who were in every congregation; if Paul enjoyne… Titus to ordaine Bishops in every Citie; and if every Church had her B…shop a long time after the Apostles, as appeareth by the testimonies of Councels, Histories, and learned Writers, both old and new: t…en mu… it needs follow, that there ought to be a Bishop in every Congregation.
CHAP. II.
FOr the further revealing of the truth, God hath ordained, that there should be in the Church Doctors, whose office is to be imployed in teaching of doctrine, and is an office different from that of the Pastour.
The latter part of this proposition, is the thing which especially they doe deny, which is thus prooved to be true.
1. Those which the Apostle (in speaking of distinct officers) doth distinguish one from another, are severall and distinct one from another: But the Apostle doth distinguish the Pastour and teacher, one from another, Rom. 12.7.8. and Ephes. 4.11. Even as he distinguisheth man and woman. Gal. 3.28. See the Greek of them both: Therefore the office of pastour and Doctor are distinct one from another.
2. As are the gifts that adorne offices, so are the officers themselves, for the execution of the office, consisteth in the employing of the gifts: But the gifts of the pastour and Doctor are divers, as appeareth 1. Cor. 12.8. And by experience, for some hath an excellent gift in doctrine, and not in application, and others excell in application and exhortation, that …re very meane, in delivering of doctrine: Therefore the office of a pastour and teacher, are distinct one from another.
3. Those that are to take a divers course in teaching are divers, and different in their functions, for else why should they be enjoyned to take a divers course: But the pastour is to take one course, and the Doctor another, for the one is to direct himselfe principally to exhort, and the other to attend upon doctrine: Rom. 12.7, 8. Therefore the office of pastour and Doctor, be distinct offices the one from the other.
4. The Ecclesiasticall stories (especially speaking of the Church of Alexandria) doe usually make a difference betwixt the Bishop and the Doctor.
5. Cathedrall Churches have yet some shew thereof left in them, who (besides the Bishop) have also one that readeth a Lecture in divinity.
6. If the distinguishing of them, make more for the building of the Church, then the uniting of them; then are they to be distinguished, & not made all one: But the form… is true, as appeareth by this, that hardly is a people brought to asound knowledge of godlines, by him that inst…ucteth in doctrine continually, & as hardly are we stir…ed up to a zealous care of our duetie, th…ugh we be ex…orted contin…ally; which both should be with lesse continuance, if one man were to performe all: Therefore they are to be esteemed distinct offices, and not parts of one office, which one is to performe.
Therefore, if the Apostle Paul distinguisheth them one from another; if God do… usually bestow doctrine and exhortation upon severall persons, where in each is found to excell, and to be no body in the other; if the pastour be commanded to take one course in teaching, and the Doctor another; if Ecclesiasticall stories doe usually distinguish them; if Cathedrall Churches have yet some steps left of the distinction; if to distinguis… them; maketh more to the building of the Church, then to unite them: then must it needs follow, that the office of pastour and Doctor be distinct, and different the one from the other.